Speech Therapy in Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar): Signs, Treatment, Process and When to Start

If your child is slow to talk, stammers, or is hard to understand, or if someone in your family has trouble speaking after a stroke, you probably have the same questions most people have. Is this normal? Do we need a speech therapist? What happens at the first visit? How long will it take?

This guide answers those questions in plain language, using guidance from ASHA, NIDCD, WHO and the Rehabilitation Council of India (RCI). It also explains how speech therapy works in Ahmednagar, now officially known as Ahilyanagar, and how to choose a therapist you can trust.

Key takeaways

• Speech therapy helps with speech sounds, language, stammering, voice and communication after brain injury, for children and adults.

• Early evaluation is low-risk. Waiting to see if a child catches up is the riskier choice if there is a genuine delay.

• A hearing test is usually the first step when a child is slow to talk, because hearing loss is a common and treatable cause.

• Speech delay is not caused by speaking more than one language at home.

• Always check that your therapist holds a valid RCI registration (CRR number).

• Sudden difficulty speaking in an adult can be a stroke. Call 108 or 112 first. Therapy comes after emergency care.

What is speech therapy?

Speech therapy is the assessment and treatment of difficulties with communication. It is delivered by a speech-language pathologist (SLP). In India, SLPs usually hold a BASLP or MASLP degree and are registered with RCI. The word speech covers several different skills:

• Speech sounds: pronouncing sounds clearly and putting them together into words.

• Language: understanding what others say (receptive language) and using words and sentences to express yourself (expressive language).

• Fluency: the smooth flow of speech, which is affected in stammering or stuttering.

• Voice: pitch, loudness and quality, for example hoarseness or a weak voice.

• Social communication: taking turns, making eye contact, and using language appropriately with other people.

• Feeding and swallowing: SLPs also assess and treat chewing and swallowing difficulties.

Speech problems are common. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), about 11% of children aged 3 to 6 years have a voice, speech, language or swallowing disorder.

Speech-language pathologist vs audiologist. These are different professions that work closely together. An audiologist tests hearing and fits hearing aids. A speech-language pathologist treats communication difficulties. Because hearing and speech are so closely linked, a child with delayed speech should have their hearing checked, and this is one reason a clinic offering both services under one roof is convenient for families.

Does my child need speech therapy? Milestones by age

Every child develops at their own pace, even within the same family. Milestones are given as ranges for this reason. The table below summarises communication milestones published by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). Use it as a guide, not a diagnosis.

Two important notes on using this table:

• Count words in every language. If your child hears Marathi, Hindi and English at home, count the words they use across all of them. Judging a multilingual child in only one language can make a normal vocabulary look small.

• Different organisations set different benchmarks. In 2022 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) moved some speech milestones later, for example from 24 to 30 months. That does not mean you should wait. If you are worried, an evaluation is quick, and the earlier a genuine delay is found, the more time there is to help.

When to book an evaluation

ASHA advises seeing your paediatrician and a certified audiologist or speech-language pathologist if a child:

• is missing several of the milestones in their age range,

• has stopped learning new skills, or

• has lost words or skills they used to have.

Losing skills (regression) deserves prompt medical attention. Speak to your paediatrician, and ask whether a paediatric neurologist should also see your child.

Other signs worth acting on:

• Your child does not respond to their name or to everyday sounds. Get a hearing test first.

• Your child rarely tries to communicate by pointing, gesturing, looking at you or making sounds.

• Your child is difficult to understand well beyond the age when others would understand them.

• Your child gets very frustrated or upset when trying to speak, or avoids speaking.

• You simply feel something is not right. Parents’ observations are an important part of an assessment.

Why do some children talk late?

There is no single cause. A speech-language pathologist looks at the whole picture. Common factors include:

• Hearing loss. If a child cannot hear speech clearly, learning to talk is harder. This is why a hearing test is a standard part of the process.

• Developmental conditions, such as autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or global developmental delay.

• Difficulty with the movements of speech, such as childhood apraxia of speech or weak oral muscle control.

• Limited language interaction, including very little conversation with adults, or long hours of passive screen viewing in place of play and talk.

• Family history of speech or language difficulties.

A late talker is not automatically autistic, and a child who is quiet at home may still have a real delay. The only reliable way to tell is a proper assessment.

Conditions speech therapy can help with in children

• Speech delay and language delay. The child says fewer words than expected, or has trouble understanding instructions.

• Articulation and pronunciation problems. The child swaps, drops or distorts sounds, for example saying “tat” for “cat”.

• Stammering or stuttering. Repeating sounds, stretching sounds, or getting stuck on a word (a block).

• Childhood apraxia of speech. The brain has difficulty planning the movements needed for speech.

• Communication difficulties in autism. Therapy focuses on functional communication, attention, turn-taking and social use of language.

• Oral-motor and feeding difficulties. Weak or poorly coordinated lip, tongue and jaw movements, or oral sensitivity. Some therapists use tools such as vibrating oral-motor brushes to build awareness of the mouth. You can read more in our guide to vibrating brush speech therapy.

• Speech and language difficulties linked to hearing loss.

For Marathi readers, we also have a detailed article on delayed speech in children (बालकांमधील Delay Speech).

Stammering and stuttering: what parents should know

Stuttering often begins between ages 2 and 6, when language is growing fast. NIDCD estimates that 5 to 10 percent of children stutter at some point, and that about 75 percent recover. Boys are affected more often than girls.

There is currently no way to reliably predict which child will recover. That is why a speech-language pathologist’s opinion matters. Consider an evaluation if:

• the stuttering has lasted several months,

• it is severe, with visible tension or struggle,

• your child is upset by it or starts avoiding speaking,

• it began at age 3½ or later, which is linked to a higher chance of persisting, or

• other speech or language difficulties are present.

What you can do at home: speak slowly and calmly yourself, give your child time to finish, avoid finishing their sentences, and avoid asking them to slow down or start again. Be realistic too. Stuttering has no instant cure, but therapy can help children and adults speak more easily and with more confidence. Be cautious about any clinic that promises a complete cure in a fixed number of sessions.

Speech therapy for adults

Adults need speech therapy too. The most common reasons are:

• Aphasia. A language problem, usually after a stroke or brain injury. The person may struggle to find words, form sentences, or understand speech. Estimates suggest that 20 to 40 percent of people who have a stroke develop aphasia.

• Dysarthria. Slurred, slow or weak speech caused by weakened speech muscles, for example after a stroke or in Parkinson’s disease. The language is intact, but the muscles are not working properly.

• Apraxia of speech. Difficulty planning speech movements after brain injury.

• Voice disorders. Hoarseness, vocal fatigue or loss of voice, often related to voice overuse or other causes. A doctor should check persistent hoarseness first.

• Stammering that continues from childhood, or begins after neurological injury.

Important: sudden trouble speaking is an emergency. If someone suddenly cannot speak, slurs their words, or cannot understand speech, especially with facial droop or weakness in an arm or leg, call 108 or 112 immediately. Speech therapy begins after the person is medically stable.

After a stroke, many people improve in the first weeks and months. When difficulties remain, speech therapy helps rebuild language and find new ways to communicate. Recovery varies a lot between individuals, and improvement can continue over time, so it is rarely too late to ask for help. Family involvement matters: using short sentences, giving time to respond, and encouraging gesture, pointing or drawing all help.

What happens at a speech therapy evaluation and session?

Many parents worry that therapy means a child sitting at a desk doing drills. For young children it is mostly structured play. Here is what to expect.

1. Conversation and history. The therapist asks about pregnancy and birth, early development, hearing, family history, languages spoken at home and your main concerns.

2. Hearing check. Hearing is assessed or confirmed before therapy goals are set.

3. Assessment. For children, this is usually through play, picture activities and observing how the child communicates with you. For adults, it includes speaking, language, voice and swallowing tasks as needed.

4. Explanation and goals. You are told what was found and agree on clear, measurable goals.

5. Therapy sessions. Sessions usually last 30 to 60 minutes. Children’s sessions use play, picture books, songs and sound games. Parents or caregivers often take part so they can continue the activities at home.

6. Home practice. Progress is much faster when practice continues between sessions.

7. Regular reviews. The plan is checked and adjusted as the person improves.

How long does speech therapy take, and what does it cost?

Duration. No honest therapist can give an exact number of sessions before an assessment. Progress depends on:

• the type and severity of the difficulty,

• the age when therapy starts,

• how often the person attends,

• how much practice happens at home, and

• other conditions, such as hearing loss, autism or neurological injury.

Some children need only a short course. Others need support over a longer period. A good therapist reviews progress regularly and explains what is changing.

Cost. Fees differ between clinics and depend on the length of the session, how often you come, whether it is an individual or group session, and the qualifications of the therapist. Before you book anywhere, ask:

• What is the fee for the first assessment, and for each therapy session?

• How long is each session?

• Are package options available, and what do they include?

• Is a hearing test included or charged separately?

You can call us on 9112717179 for current fees.

How you can help your child at home

Parents are a child’s first and most important speech partners. These ideas, drawn from ASHA’s guidance and everyday clinical practice, work in any language.

• Talk about what you are doing. Name things while cooking, bathing, walking or shopping.

• Keep your sentences short and repeat them. Then add one word to what your child says. If they say “ball”, you say “big ball” or “red ball”.

• Read together every day, especially picture books with large pictures and few words.

• Sing songs and rhymes in Marathi, Hindi or English, with actions.

• Play with sounds. Blow bubbles and say “b-b-b”, or make car and animal sounds.

• Give your child time to answer, and wait a few seconds before helping.

• Do not interrupt to correct sounds. Say the word back correctly in a natural way instead.

• Give simple instructions and gradually make them longer, such as “get the spoon” and then “get the spoon and put it on the table”.

Screen time and speech development

Children learn language by talking with people, not by watching. The World Health Organization advises no screen time for infants under 1 year, and says screens are not recommended for 1-year-olds. For children aged 2 to 4 years it recommends no more than one hour a day, and less is better. Passive viewing, including a TV on in the background, takes away time for conversation and play.

The problem is mostly passive, solo screen use. Watching or playing something together, while you talk about what is on the screen, is much better than handing over a phone. If your child has a speech delay and spends many hours on a screen, reducing screen time and replacing it with play and conversation is one of the most useful changes you can make, alongside therapy.

Does speaking two or three languages cause speech delay?

No. Many families in Maharashtra speak Marathi, Hindi and English together, and worry that this confuses their child. Research and the position of professional bodies such as ASHA are clear: bilingualism does not cause speech or language disorders. It also does not protect against them. A child with a genuine delay needs support, whatever languages they hear.

• Mixing languages in one sentence is normal in multilingual children.

• Do not drop a language because of a delay. Keep talking to your child in the language you are most comfortable and fluent in.

• Ask that your child be assessed taking all their languages into account.

How to choose a speech therapist in Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar)

Quality varies, so it helps to know what to look for.

• RCI registration. Under the Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992, only registered professionals may practise as audiologists and speech therapists. Ask for the therapist’s CRR number and check it on the RCI website, rehabcouncil.nic.in.

• Appropriate qualifications, such as BASLP or MASLP in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology.

• A proper assessment before therapy, not a plan decided on the phone.

• Clear goals and regular progress reviews that are explained to you.

• Parent involvement. You should leave each session knowing what to practise at home.

• Hearing assessment available, since hearing and speech are linked.

• Honest promises. Be wary of anyone who guarantees a complete cure or a fixed result in a set number of days.

• Communication in your language, so that you can follow and carry out the advice.

• A comfortable environment where your child feels relaxed.

Speech therapy at VR Speech and Hearing Clinic, Ahilyanagar

VR Speech and Hearing Clinic offers speech therapy and hearing services for children and adults in Ahmednagar (Ahilyanagar). Our team includes Vilas Rathod (BASLP) and Vikas Rathod (Audiologist). Each treatment plan is built on an individual assessment, with progress tracking and guidance for parents.

Services include:

• Speech delay and language development therapy for children

• Early intervention for toddlers

• Articulation and pronunciation correction

• Stammering and stuttering therapy

• Speech and communication therapy for children with autism

• Voice disorder therapy

• Post-stroke speech rehabilitation

• Speech therapy for adults

• Hearing evaluation and hearing aid services

Sessions can be held in Marathi, Hindi or English, and online speech therapy is available for suitable cases. Please ask when you book.

Clinic address: Shop No. 3, Vitthal Apartment, Pipeline Road, opposite Parvati Corner, Bhistabag Chowk, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra 414003.

To book an appointment: call 9112717179, message us on WhatsApp, or use our online booking page. You can also read about the clinic on our clinic page.

Frequently asked questions

At what age should a child start speech therapy?

As soon as a concern appears. There is no minimum age, and evaluation is possible in toddlers. Many families come between 18 months and 3 years, but therapy helps children and adults at any age.

Is speech therapy painful or frightening for children?

No. Sessions for young children are play-based, using toys, books, songs and games. Children usually enjoy them.

Will my child speak after therapy?

Most children improve with the right support, but how much and how quickly depends on the cause and severity. The therapist can give you a realistic picture after the assessment.

Can a speech delay fix itself?

Some late talkers catch up on their own, but there is no reliable way to know in advance which children will. An evaluation tells you whether your child needs therapy, and it is better to find out early.

How many sessions will my child need?

It varies. The therapist will discuss an expected plan after the evaluation, and will review it regularly.

Do you treat adults?

Yes. We support adults with speech difficulties after stroke, voice problems, stammering and other communication concerns.

Can stammering be cured?

Many children outgrow stuttering. For others, therapy helps people speak more fluently and with less stress, but no honest clinic can guarantee a cure.

Does speaking multiple languages cause a speech delay?

No. Multilingual children reach milestones at similar times, and a delay should never be blamed on language mixing.

Is online speech therapy available?

Yes, for suitable cases. Some children and adults do better with in-person sessions, so the therapist will advise you.

How do I book an appointment?

Call 9112717179, send a WhatsApp message, or book online at vrhearingclinic.com/book. You can also visit us at Bhistabag Chowk.

Where is VR Speech and Hearing Clinic located? Shop No. 3, Vitthal Apartment, Pipeline Road, opposite Parvati Corner, Bhistabag Chowk, Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra 414003.

Sources and further reading

• ASHA, Developmental Milestones: Birth to 5 Years (asha.org/public/developmental-milestones)

• NIDCD, Stuttering fact sheet and Aphasia fact sheet (nidcd.nih.gov)

• World Health Organization, Guidelines on physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age (2019)

• Rehabilitation Council of India, Central Rehabilitation Register and RCI Act, 1992 (rehabcouncil.nic.in)

This article is for general information and does not replace an assessment by a qualified professional. If you are worried about your child’s development or someone’s speech, please seek an evaluation.